Home - Destinations - iPhone/Android - Gyms - Partners - Forum - Photos - Deals - What's New
 ADVANCED
Morrison/Evergreen
Cannondale Morphis Cycling Jacket

$109.99 44% off

$60.50

at AlsSports

10    more...
Patagonia Women's Micro Puff Jacket

$149.00 50% off

$74.50

at Patagonia

34    more...
MSR Alpine 4 Pot Set

$49.99 30% off

$34.99

at AlsSports

1    more...
Outdoor Research Verglas Gaiter - Women's

$53.95 34% off

$35.07

at Backcountry

25    more...
Metolius Mega Pack Climbing Holds

$138.99 25% off

$104.24

at AlsSports

   more...
Scarpa Force Climbing Shoe - Women's

$128.95 25% off

$96.71

at Backcountry

33    more...
Anasazi Arrowhead Climbing Shoes - Men's

$154.95 25% off

$116.21

at CampSaver

70    more...
 more Dirtbag Deals

Select Area...
Alderfer/Three Sisters Park 
Bear Creek Cave, The 
Corwina Park Boulders 
Deer Creek Crag 
Elephant Butte 
Elk Meadow Overhang 
Fireblack Boulder 
Juniper Pass 
Lover's Leap 
Matt Damon on the Side of the Road Boulder 
Matthews-Winters Park 
Maxwell Falls 
Morrison Boulders 
Morrison Routes 
Mount Morrison 
Ocelot Cliffs 
Urban Alpine Crag, The 

Rest Day:
Nearby Mountain Bike Rides

Canyon Loop
The original Betasso loop - a short but entertaining loop close to Boulder. Near Boulder, CO
Betasso - Canyon Loop and Benjamin Trail
A solid ride close to Boulder that is often ridden from town. Near Boulder, CO
Wapiti Trail
The main trail at Heil climbing up from the trailhead to the Ponderosa loop and beyond. Near Lyons, CO
Heil Ranch
A good intermediate ride relatively close to Boulder, with many options for linking to other trails. Near Lyons, CO
Ponderosa Loop
A short intermediate loop at the top of Heil Ranch, with moderate terrain and a scenic overlook. Near Lyons, CO
Wild Turkey Trail
A newer trail section at Heil connecting the Ponderosa Loop with the Picture Rock trail to Lyons. Near Lyons, CO
From MP's sister site: MTB Project

Morrison/Evergreen 


Photos: Recent | Best | Popular
Lat, Long: 39.6548, -105.195 Map
Page Views: 869,235. Good page? (1 like)   
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: John McNamee on Mar 5, 2006

Make this area a Favorite
What's New
 Printer View

Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event 

Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Partly Cloudy
64° | 48°
Thunderstorm
75° | 50°
Thunderstorm
64° | 54°
Partly Cloudy
77° | 57°
Partly Cloudy
82° | 61°

Downtown Morrison.

Description 

Morrison is well known as a classic Font Range bouldering area. A outdoor climbing gym with two distinctive atmospheres. On the Northern side of the road, it's rare to boulder by yourself, whereas the southern side I've yet to met anyone there.

The town of Morrison is a small but thriving town whose major industries are tourism and margaritas - especially in the summer. Visitors come for our restaurants, rocks, and/or rock concerts at Red Rocks. The population is about 500 people.

Evergreen is further up Bear Valley at 7200 feet, approximately 20 minutes from Morrison. It's considerably larger than Morrison with about 30,000 residents, although many of them are very spread out.


Getting There 

From Boulder, take CO Hwy 93 to Golden, US 6 to C-470 heading South, and get off 5-10 minutes later at Morrison. Take a right after exiting. One can also take a right just past Golden on Heritage Rd, which becomes a highway that goes by Red Rocks and spits you out into Morrison on the west side. Continue up CO Hwy 74 (Bear Creek Road) to Evergreen. Watch out for cyclists!

From Denver, take US 285 to C-470, then head north the the Morrison exit, and take a left into town. To get to Evergreen, continue up CO Hwy 74.

Map of Morrison and Evergreen


Resources 

This town is famous for its Margaritas and its Mexican food, and the one place to get them is the Morrison Inn. There is also a great Italian restaurant in town.


Camping 

Per Derek Lawrence: the closest camping is at Bear Creek Lake Park - www.lakewood.org/bclp/.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Morrison/Evergreen:
Breashears' Crack   V1     Boulder   Morrison Boulders : The Black Hole
Dihedral Problem   V2     Boulder, 10 feet   The Eggs : Trailside Egg
Breashear's Crack II   V3     Boulder, 19 feet   Morrison Boulders : The Dark Side
Guiding Light A.K.A Round Up   V3-4     Boulder, 15 feet   Alderfer/Three Sisters Park : Work and Play Area
Super Slab   V4     Boulder, 10 feet   The Land of Slabs : The Slab
Wisdom A.K.A. The Best Boulder Problem In Evergreen   V4 PG13     Boulder, 25 feet   Alderfer/Three Sisters Park : The Brother's Lookout South...
Air Jordan   V5     Boulder   Morrison Boulders : The Black Hole
Double Arete   V5     Boulder, 16 feet   Morrison Boulders : The Dark Side
Squirming Coil   V5     Boulder, 15 feet   Morrison Boulders : The Dark Side
Helicopter   V5     Boulder   Morrison Boulders : The Black Hole
Ghost Dance   V6     Boulder, 20 feet   Matthews-Winters Park : The Millenium Boulder
Child's Play   V6-7     Boulder, 10 feet   Alderfer/Three Sisters Park : Work and Play Area
The Pearl   V7-8     Boulder, 16 feet   Tortuga : The Black Pearl
Arrowhead Arete Low   V8     Boulder   Morrison Boulders : The Dark Side
Prince Charles   V8     Boulder, 15 feet   Alderfer/Three Sisters Park : The Pass
Thievery   V8     Boulder, 14 feet   Alderfer/Three Sisters Park : Energy Crag
Bambi   V11+     Boulder, 25 feet   Hill Side Boulders : The Cave Boulder aka Deer C...
Rupture - V5-V7   V? R     Boulder, 10 feet   Morrison Boulders : The Dark Side
Lover's Leap   5.7     Trad, 4 pitches, Grade II   Lover's Leap
The Road Less Traveled   5.13a/b     Sport, 1 pitch, 50 feet   Deer Creek Crag
Browse More Classics in Morrison/Evergreen

Featured Route For Morrison/Evergreen
Photo beta update of "Auxiliary Verb."  Located on the "Wisdom Wall."  Update as of 7-18-09.

Auxiliary Verb V3-4 PG13  CO : Morrison/Evergreen : ... : The Brother's Lookout South...
Start on the far right side of "The Wisdom Wall" above the lower start of "Undercover Brother." Climb the corner/arete on a nice rail system then get a heel hook right and crank up into a nice horizontal crack/seam system (CRUX) that leads to a scary insecure scoop. Rest up in the scoop and then gather your brain cells and move with care the top of the formation. Walk off right and climb back down a small gully to get back to your gear.This has been a HIGHLY OVER LOOKED LINE on "The Wisdom Wa...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO


Photos of Morrison/Evergreen Slideshow Add Photo
Morrison, Colorado. This photo was taken in February/March 2005 on a warm day.

Morrison, Colorado. This photo was taken in Februa...

Bouldering above the town of Morrison, before a show at Red Rocks.

Bouldering above the town of Morrison, before a sh...

Chuck pulls down another hard first ascent in the Evergreen area.

Chuck pulls down another hard first ascent in the ...

Bouldering Treasure Map.

Bouldering Treasure Map.

Luke Childers finding the simplest solution on his new classic "Occam's Razor."

Luke Childers finding the simplest solution on his...

Dinosaur Ridge Park near Morrison. <br />Photo by Blitzo.

Dinosaur Ridge Park near Morrison.
Photo by Blitzo...



Comments on Morrison/Evergreen Add Comment
Show which comments
By Olaf Mitchell
From: Paia, Maui, Hi,
Mar 23, 2007

An alternative to the regular Morrison bouldering/climbing:

Drive about a mile (west) out of Morrison up Bear Creek Canyon.
On the south side of the canyon (across the river) there is a severely overhanging face with two bolted routes on it.

The Bearicade, 5.12?, F.A. me and a bunch of my friends.
Kodiak Arrest, 5.13? F.A. Rufus Miller, Dave Twinum is on the right.

The climbs are about 100' above the river and can be spotted easier by driving past and turning around.

There is a large spot to pull off the road right under them.
These climbs are accessed by crossing the river any way you can(wading works). There is a dry way, but you have to cross a gated pipe.

We generally hike around to the top of the route and rap in. I haven't been there in a while, maybe some stuff to back things up. I do remember that the rap sling should hang over the lip and makes the last clip for a lead ascent. (you'll see). The bolts on the routes are good, the exposure is breath taking, the angle is steep!, the rock quality is very solid, and it is way pumpy! This is a great summer afternoon outing.

By Alex A
Aug 7, 2007

Has anyone climbed the cliffs above Evergreen Lake, they look good from the road,

By Tom Hanson
Aug 7, 2007

Hi Alex,
If you're into bouldering, there is some really good stuff, though hard to find, up at Alderfer-Three Sisters Park in Evergreen.
By the way, I see that you climbed for 25 years at The Lake.
Are you an ex-DLFA clubber?
I am a branch affiliate DLFA'er from Taylors Falls circa early seventies to 1982, when I moved to CO for multi-pitch.
Now living in Castle Rock as a founding foreskin of the DCCC
Rich Bechler bestowed upon me the unofficial title of Megalomaniacal Potentate of Fukness, so I am now unofficially "core" even if I am an over-the-hill-has-been.

By Andrew Bergner
Mar 15, 2013

Does anyone know of good camping in the area?

By Derek Lawrence
From: Bailey
Mar 15, 2013

Re: camping:
I'm not sure it would be considered "good", but the closest camping to Morrison is Bear Creek Lake Park - www.lakewood.org/bclp/.

By Andrew Bergner
Apr 29, 2013

Thanks for the help.